Is Cyrodiil Making a Comeback in The Elder Scrolls 6? Analyzing Skyrim's DLC Clues
Skyrim's DLC hints at Bethesda's openness to revisiting locations, and Cyrodiil holds immense potential for a comeback in TES6, sparking excitement among fans
Highlights
The Elder Scrolls 6 is now in full development after being in pre-production for a while, but it will still take a few more years before it's released.
Fans speculate that Hammerfell will be the main setting of The Elder Scrolls 6, possibly with a glimpse of High Rock. There has been little discussion regarding potential DLC for the game at this point.
The future downloadable content for The Elder Scrolls 6 has the potential to bring players back to Cyrodiil, just as past expansions have revisited previous game locations. Cyrodiil holds rich lore and offers intriguing story possibilities, particularly concerning the Thalmor and the succession of the Emperor.
The Elder Scrolls 6 has transitioned from pre-production to full development, although players may still have to wait a few more years for its release. Bethesda initially announced the game in 2018, which means it has been a considerable wait since the release of Skyrim in 2011. During this extended period between mainline releases, fans have engaged in ample speculation regarding The Elder Scrolls 6.
While concrete evidence is scarce, enthusiasts strongly believe that the majority of the game will be set in Hammerfell, potentially featuring High Rock as well. Understandably, there has been less discussion regarding potential DLC for TES6. However, it is worth noting that Skyrim's DLC suggests a possible return to the region of Cyrodiil in the upcoming game.
Why Cyrodiil Could Return in TES6
Ignoring the premium content of Hearthfire and Oblivion, the narrative expansions of Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim all followed a similar pattern. The first expansion focuses on telling a story on a smaller scale. These include Tribunal, Knights of the Nine, and Dawnguard. The second expansion is more extensive, introducing a new open-world area that is separate from the main world map. Examples of these expansions are Bloodmoon, Shivering Isles, and Dragonborn. While they do have main quests, their primary purpose is to immerse the player in a new setting.
In the case of Skyrim's Dragonborn expansion, players were taken back to the island of Solstheim, located off the north coast of Skyrim and Morrowind. Unlike Bloodmoon's version of Solstheim, which allowed Morrowind players to experience a snowy Skyrim, Dragonborn offered Skyrim players a taste of Morrowind. This expansion also revealed that Bethesda is not opposed to revisiting previous game settings. This presents the possibility of The Elder Scrolls 6's DLC bringing players back to Cyrodiil. While this is not guaranteed to happen, it would not be unprecedented within the Elder Scrolls series.
Events are unfolding in Cyrodiil, despite popular belief. In fact, a significant portion of The Elder Scroll's Great War unfolded in this region, making it the likely target for Dominion aggression. Given the potential significance of the Thalmor in The Elder Scrolls 6, it would not be surprising if tensions escalated once again. Additionally, the issue of the Emperor's succession, assuming his assassination in Skyrim is accepted as canon, adds another layer of intrigue. Furthermore, die-hard Oblivion fans may be intrigued by the opportunity to witness how Cyrodiil has evolved over the past two centuries.
Regarding the specific location within Cyrodiil, The Imperial City and the surrounding Imperial Isle appear to be the most suitable choices for a TES6 DLC. Previous technological limitations in Oblivion prevented the city from being accurately portrayed, while the ongoing war in ESO renders it an unsuitable candidate. A potential Elder Scrolls 6 DLC could finally provide an authentic representation of this vast metropolis. Moreover, it serves as an ideal backdrop for narratives centered around court intrigue, Thalmor espionage, or potentially both.
The Imperial Isle is not the only option available. While Bruma may resemble Skyrim too closely, many other counties in Cyrodiil could be considered for a DLC. Kvatch, in particular, presents an intriguing choice as it was never fully explored by non-MMO players in its intact state. With over two hundred years having passed, the opportunity to witness the rebuilt city would surely evoke nostalgia for fans of Oblivion. Additionally, the destruction of Kvatch in Oblivion allows Bethesda the freedom to reimagine the city according to their desires.
Another possibility is a visit to Sutch, a city that was cut from Oblivion but is referenced across multiple games. Fan theories put forth the idea that Sutch was destroyed between ESO and Oblivion, although this is not confirmed in the game's lore. This leaves room for it to potentially make an appearance in a future game. The location of Sutch, just beyond the southern border of Hammerfell, would also be conveniently situated if The Elder Scrolls 6 were to take place in that province.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a franchise that was released on November 11, 2011. The game is available on various platforms including PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S, PS4, PS5, and Switch. Developed by Bethesda, Skyrim falls under the RPG, Action, and Adventure genres. The game's engine is called Creation and it has an ESRB rating of M for Mature, due to its use of alcohol, blood and gore, intense violence, and sexual themes. Skyrim also has several expansions including Dragonborn, Hearthfire, and Dawnguard. Based on data from How Long To Beat, the average playtime for Skyrim is 26 hours. The game has a Metascore of 73 and is available for PS Plus subscribers as extra content and in the premium version.
